Stefanos Tsitsipas makes his point as he beats Alexander Zverev in Monte Carlo

ATP Tour
Stefanos Tsitsipas

Defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas beat Alexander Zverev in straight sets to reach the final of the Rolex Monte Carlo Masters, where he will face Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

The third-seeded Greek coasted past the German world number three 6-4 6-2 to end Zverev’s hopes of completing the triple crown of clay-court ATP Masters 1000 titles and closing up on Daniil Medvedev in the rankings.

“It was good,” said Tsitsipas in his on-court interview. “I don’t know whether the long match gave me some rhythm, but I was able to play good tennis today. I’m happy with the level I was able to execute and come up with some good ideas on the court.”

Davidovich Fokina, meanwhile, continued his impressive run after battling past Grigor Dimitrov 6-4 6-7 (2) 6-3 to reach his first ATP Tour final.

The 22-year-old Spaniard has produced a string of fine performances this week – which included upsetting world number one Novak Djokovic, Indian Wells champion Taylor Fritz and veteran Belgian David Goffin.

“I am so, so happy to be in the final. It is a dream come true,” Davidovich Fokina said in his on-court interview, quoted by the ATP tour website. “When I was a kid I was dreaming about this day.”

Looking ahead to the final, Tsitsipas added: “It’s going to take a little bit more. He’s on a good run, in a good rhythm. I’ve played him before, he’s a good opponent, I’ve had big battles against him and I’m going to try and be as ready as possible.

“I know he’s improved from before and I’m going to have that in the back of my head, to produce the best tennis that I can.”

In the doubles, Joe Salisbury got the better of fellow Briton Jamie Murray as he and America’s Rajeev Ram, the tournament’s top seeds, eventually saw off Murray and India’s Rohan Bopanna 3-6 7-6 (4) 11-9 to progress to Sunday’s final.

Alexander Zverev Stefanos Tsitsipas

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